ARUBA NETWORKS' RIGHTSIZING GUIDE MAKES IT EASIER TO SQUEEZE COSTS OUT OF LAN INFRASTRUCTURE

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New Best Practices Guide Shows How 802.11n Wi-Fi Can Lower Costs, Improve Services During A Wired Network Refresh

Sunnyvale, CA, March 18, 2010- Aruba Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARUN), a global leader in 802.11n wireless LANs and secure mobility solutions, today announced the availability of "Network Rightsizing Best Practices Guide," a reference primer compiled from real-world implementations, that shows how 802.11n Wi-Fi can significantly lower the cost of refreshing wired LAN infrastructure while also improving services.

As workforces have become increasingly mobile, the demand for Wi-Fi connectivity has grown while use of wired Ethernet access at the network edge has fallen. This dichotomy has created a significant cost-saving opportunity. By using low-cost Wi-Fi everywhere you can, and expensive Ethernet only where you must - a process called "network rightsizing" - enterprises, enhance user mobility while significantly lowering capital and operating expenses.

Network rightsizing has been field-proven to realize substantial cost savings during a network refresh and when Ethernet switches are discontinued. The concept is grounded on four key principles:

• Providing a network connection that meets current and future needs at the lowest possible cost. Advancements in wireless communications technology enable Aruba to deliver a wire-like experience over adaptive 802.11n wireless LANs. Increases in total available wireless capacity and client density, coupled with Quality of Service enhancements, ensure that commonly used data, voice and video applications are delivered over Wi-Fi with the same or better user experience as a wired network;
• Eliminating the use of equipment that is no longer essential to company operations. Most offices have over-provisioned the wired infrastructure by providing multiple wired ports per user to support different client types (desktops, phones, projectors) and potential future growth. A closet refresh presents an opportunity to rightsize an over-provisioned network. Monitoring software can analyze which ports have gone unused so they don't have to be replaced during the refresh, reducing equipment, maintenance, and utility costs;
• Minimizing complexity by reducing the cost and time required to manage a network. Every Aruba 802.11n access point can typically support 25 or more standard office users, so fewer switch ports are needed to support a given user base. During wiring closet refreshes, that means fewer switches and ports need to be replaced. Wi-Fi also reduces the number of network adds, moves, and changes since mobile users can freely change locations without modifying any physical connections. Aruba Wi-Fi easily integrates with existing IT infrastructure, dynamically self-optimizes to accommodate local conditions, and is managed from one central interface - freeing IT staff time for other initiatives;
• Driving employee productivity improvements through enhanced mobility. Unlike wired networks that handcuff a user to a physical port, 802.11n Wi-Fi provides users with immediate access to business-critical applications and the freedom to work where they're needed most. Fast access to data and services facilitates workgroup collaboration and enhances productivity.

Aruba's new best practices guide documents how leading organizations have used these four principles in practice to enhance mobility and lower expenses. Readers are shown how to analyze network utilization, justify rightsizing changes, implement an optimized network, and validate the resulting savings. In many enterprises 30-40% of wired ports go unused, while wireless users are often underserved. The guide shows how some of the savings obtained from upgrading fewer switches and maintaining a leaner network can fund an adaptive 802.11n Wi-Fi network, leaving the balance of savings for other purposes.

"Network rightsizing is a field-proven, cost-saving technique," said Manav Khurana, Aruba's Head of Industry Marketing. "Roughly 75% of Ethernet switch purchases are for closet refreshes catalyzed by vendors that discontinue popular switch product lines or cease regular product updates. A refresh is the time to step back and question what actually needs to be replaced. Network rightsizing advocates replacing only essential switch infrastructure and redirecting savings to better serve the growing cadre of mobile users."

The California State University System, KPMG Netherlands, and Brandeis University - among many others - have obtained millions of dollars of savings by following the rightsizing principles. Aruba's rightsizing case studies, and a copy of the "Network Rightsizing Best Practices Guide," can be obtained fromhttp://www.arubanetworks.com/networkrightsizing.

Aruba offers a course to train IT departments and network integrators on the four principles of rightsizing, and to introduce tools for analyzing switch usage and potential savings opportunities. Details about the course, Aruba EDU-NRS, can be found athttp://www.arubanetworks.com/networkrightsizing.

About Aruba Networks, Inc.

Aruba is the global leader in distributed enterprise networks. Its award-winning portfolio of campus,branch/teleworker, and mobile solutions simplify operations and secure access to all corporate applications and services - regardless of the user's device, location, or network. This dramatically improves productivity and lowers capital and operational costs.

Listed on the NASDAQ and Russell 2000® Index, Aruba is based in Sunnyvale, California, and hasoperations throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific regions. To learn more,visit Aruba athttp://www.arubanetworks.com. For real-time news updates follow Aruba onTwitter,Facebook, or theGreen Island News Blog.

Michael Tennefoss
Aruba Networks, Inc.
+1-408-754-8034

mtennefoss@arubanetworks.com

Patty Oien
Breakaway Communications.
+1-415-358-2482

poien@breakawaycom.com

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